Strictly’s back, which of these stars will have a ball in 2025?

The nights are drawing in, and we could probably all use a little sparkle to brighten up our lives.

Thank goodness, then, that Strictly Come Dancing is back. Yes, at 6.40pm on BBC1 tonight, it’s time to sprinkle the glitter, don your best lycra outfit and get set for Britain’s biggest and best celebrity-driven competition.

Its biggest star (in literal terms at least) was forced to withdraw just days after he was announced - 6ft 8in Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn dropped out due to “unexpected medical reasons”, and quickly replaced by Lewis Cope, an actor best known as Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale.

“I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor,” said Cope. “I’ve always been a fan of the show and cannot wait to get started!”

Lining up alongside him are Gladiator Harry Arikines-Aryeetey, who impressed in last year’s Christmas edition, TV personalities Dani Dyer, Thomas Skinner and Vicky Pattison, actors Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal (the now customary EastEnders-related participant), Ellie Goldstein and Stefan Dennis, showbiz reporter Ross King, ex-footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, influencer George Clarke, RuPaul’s Drag Race star La Voix, soccer ace-turned-pundit Karen Carney, and ex-England rugby captain Chris Robshaw.

They’ll aim to follow last year’s winner, Chris McCausland, by lifting the glitterball trophy, and all issued similar statements as Cope, except for Kingston, who simply screamed: “Aaaagghhh!”

Of course, it’s not just their on appearance on the show that’s important, it’s who turns up to watch them and their reactions. Dyer’s dad, actor Danny, is sure to be a proud onlooker, and wouldn’t it be nice if Kingston’s former ER colleague George Clooney turned up to cheer her on? Perhaps some of her Doctor Who co-stars are a more realistic dream, however.

But before the celebrities start learning their routines, they must find out who will be putting them through their paces - which is where tonight’s show comes in. After Tess Daly introduces them to their pro partners, they’ll discuss their thoughts with Claudia Winkleman.

Usually the show’s backroom team does a good job of matching up like-minded souls, although one person who won’t have a celeb this time around is the popular Gorka Marquez - he’ll be seen in pre-filmed group dances, but is returning to Spain to be a judge on its version of the show.

We’re sure to miss him, but once that famous theme starts, all attention turns to those taking part - good luck one and all!